The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-06

letter to the pension department, yielding
his annual stipend as a pensioner. Now,
Colonel Morrison was faithful soldier, and
like thousands of others, is on the pension
list Of the country, though neither poor nor
infrm. lie very properly refuses to accept
a.pension.
Instead of increasing the immense appro-
priation for the purpose, the government
should have the pension list carefully re-
vised and only pay those who are really in
need of assistance. This tribute should be
extended to deserving soldiers and to the
needy widows and orphans of those who
were disabled or lost their life in the service
of the government. Beyond this it is the
part Of the statesman to see that there shall
be no waste of the public fund, and to this
end congress should give it's attention.
Foraker and Farchild and other loud
mouthed demagogues will try to frighten
congress by an exhibit of the vote which
they claim is back Of them, to put its hand
in the national treasury and make monster
pension grab. They were successful with
the last congress, but the president inter-
posed and vetoed the bill. For this act he
has won the increased confidence of the peo-
pie and has strengthened himself in the es-
timation of the public.
The rank and file of the grand army
should not allow their organization to be used
as the tool of aspiring politicians, and the
attempt to do so should be rebuked.
The Philadelphia Times well says of the
question:
sentmentalists so daft on this subject of pensions
Half the men who today hold discharges received
sums of money as bountes that were considered
fabulous in the day of payment. These sums, how
ever indirectly, aided in fosting debt Of three bill
lions on the land To this burden has been added,
by general consent, pension system previously
heard Of in llberality. 1t should be remembered
that constantly rail at the civil pensions of Great
Britain, and the payments in that tountry of public
money to undeserying people; but, with ell the ex-
t5nt Of the British empire beside which our nation
seems small the payments for military pensions are
but W. 800 go and all PENSIONS civil ana military
amount to but Sc 900 COO The whole expense for a
standing army in France does not double our annual
pension payments. The items of donations, restitu-
tons and extraordinary expenditures in France sink
twenty millions below on: pension list. All the
pensions of Austria are but 100000, or onennth
Of Americas All the pensions of Germany are but
Sl00 o, or less than one-siXth The expense of
tie German army, of which we pTGtc continually,
goes but twenty millions, or one-quarer above our
pensions. The Grand Army of the Republic, through
nearly unanimous vote, put itself on record as
tirely dissatisfied with pension payments, which in
1856 rose to sos 100000. The compliments are dis
pleased that the pension bureau, which is now
larger administration than appertained to the whole
nation before the war, should not spread through
every government building in Washington, and
displaoe all other functions Like tie woes of an
oerfond mother, the generosity of the american
government promises to return in the plaguing o.
its spoilt chillgon"